More snow? If you're snowed in I hope you have some good books and hot chocolate to snuggle up with. Olivia, I'm so glad you liked Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats. Tiffany, your magician idea was great. If you get a snow day, you might enjoy writing that story yourself. My writing page might give you some helpful suggestions. Brittany, I'm glad you liked the title of Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips. In that story, the kids go to an old west town where they have some adventures, including meeting up with a ghost! I hope you'll enjoy the story. Maggie, I'm glad you like Ghouls Don't Scoop Ice Cream. The chapter called Super Eddie is one of my favorites. Your ideas were amazing. Did you know there's a spaghetti story on my website? Adam, I like funny stories too. I'm so glad you like mine. Maverick, I really like your name. I'm so happy you liked Sea Serpents Don't Juggle Water Balloons. Melissa, when Marcia and I wrote the first Bailey School Kids book, we told that Mrs. Jeepers was a vampire. Our editor thought that was too scary and asked us to make the endings the way they are. I'm delighted you enjoyed the series and I laughed at your hippi idea. I hope you'll try out the Keyholder or another one of my series. Kristen, I'm glad you liked book one of Keyholders, This Side of Magic. Your idea about a prequel was very interesting. Meanwhile, I hope you'll try books two through four. Megan, the illustrator of the Keyholders books is Adam Stover. I do get suggestions from fans. They have awesome ideas. Nina, thanks for your well wishes. I thought the book Becky and I wrote turned out really funny. It's with Hyperion (a Disney publisher) right now, so we'll see what happens. I do like the snow-I bet you enjoyed the snow days. I hope you have a great St. Valentine's Day. ttyl, Debbie

Saturday February 6, 2010

Wow, I can't believe the snow falling outside my office window. It's so pretty. My son can't wait to get outside and play in it, but we'll have to wait until the blizzard slows down. He wants to snowboard on this hill close to us, like in Giants Don't Go Snowboarding. I hope you'll listen to the new podcast I just put up aboutThe Wrong Side of Magic. Megan, it's fun to write about Eddie, Melody, Howie, and Liza. Marcia and I also have Carey and Howie in some of the stories. Brittany, I think your name would be good to put in a story. Did you know I wrote a book called Ghosts Don't Ride Wild Horses? I like horses too. I always thought it would be cool to have one, but I never have. Jordan, Kenan, Annika, and Tiffany, I enjoyed your funny ideas. They made me laugh. Annika, I've written about 147 books. Tiffany, I like writing so I don't know how many stories I'll make. Happy birthday Elizabeth! I like your funny idea. I am fine. How are you? Mark, I have an idea for another pirate book I'd like to write someday. Did you know I've written two pirate books with my friend Marcia? We wrote Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses and Pirates Do Ride Scooters. Shane, I hope your book report went well. I liked your idea too. In fact, did you know Marcia and I did write a story about a kid/monster who has a pet monster? It's called Kilmer's Pet Monster. Sierra, I am 500,000 plus 6,050 plus 1,000,000 minus 1,506,000 years old. Shelby, I have been writing about twenty years! Samar, God bless you! Chloe and Srija, I'm so glad you like my stories. Srija, good luck with your fantasy. Shelby, I can't think of a time where that happened. ttyl, Debbie

Saturday January 30, 2010

Check out the Bailey School Kids Cupid magazine. (My lovely website manager just put it up.) Hope you'll like it and the other magazines on the Swamp page. If you're in the mood for a Valentine's book, read about Eddie and his 'anti-love' potion in Cupid Doesn't Flip Hambugers. It's Eddie at his slimy best! Speaking of magazines, I wonder if it'd be cool to have an online kid's magazine where kids would publish their stuff. Does anyone know of one? Brielle, good luck with your book! You and Elizabeth R. might want to check out my writing page. It's so cool that you write a lot of short stories Elizabeth. (Write me at Kid's Talk). Elizabeth, you can find out more things about me on the about me page. I think a circle is my favorite shape. Olivia, I do have three dogs (Bailey, Skip, and Shadow). Jazmin, I'm so glad you like Trolls Don't Like Rollercoasters. I'm a chicken about rollercoasters, just like Liza. Do you like them? Yo to Dinote, John and Juliana! Iiam, Casey, Daniel, Hannah, Matthew, Laura, Ally, Juliana, and Lauren thanks for your great and funny ideas. Matthew and Hannah, I actually did write a bulldog story. It was called Bobby and The Great Green Booger. I also wrote a book about Mrs. Claus called Mrs. Claus Doesn't Climb Telephone Poles. Laura, I do think it would be cool if they made a Bailey School Kids movie (a cartoon would be awesome too.) Megan, I loved your bookmark. I'll tell Becky what you said. I'm not sure we are going to write more Bailey books. Do you think we should? Jessica, I sent my first story to Scholastic. Good luck to your sister. If she's an adult she'll want to check out the scbwi.org website. Brittany, so good to hear from you. You are awesome. Athena, I came up with the idea for Angels don't Know Karate because I wanted to write about a nice creature. I was also taking karate lessons, so Marcia and I put the two together. I'm glad you liked it. Enya, to see pictures of my books you can click here (my book page). Tifany, we hope to write more Keyholder books. We'd like to write about Dracula's sisters and their rescue. Christopher, I have written about 147 books. I liked your bongo idea. Juliana, your bookmark made me hungry! Helen, I'm so glad you like my books. ttyl, Debbie

Sunday January 24, 2010

How would you like to get snowed in overnight at your school? It really happened at a school I visited. That idea helped shape the book Dragons Don't Throw Snowballs. Speaking of snow-on Friday I went night skiing. I'd never been before. It was so cool to see the sun go down and the moon shine on the white slopes. It was kind of magical. Hi Alex. No, Bruno is not real. I do love dogs (I have three), so Marcia and I made him up from all the dogs we know (and have known) and love. Samantha and Ashlyn, I'm so glad you love my books. Do you have a favorite? Makayla, I have been writing for about 21 years and I still love it. The last chapter I wrote had me back in fifth grade, getting into trouble. (Unfortunately that happened way too much!) The idea for the Swamp Monster in Third Grade series actually came from a Bailey School Kids book called Swamp Monsters Don't Chase Wild Turkeys. I had fun writing about a swamp monster and wanted to write more! g2g, Debbie

Monday January 18, 2010

I hope no one's been sick at your house with the flu. That's what hit my house like a ten-ton sledge hammer. My youngest son got it (even after having two flu shots), but thankfully he's well now. Lauren, good luck with your writing. Why don't you send me your first line? Did you know that first lines are very important? Sometimes that's all an editor will look at to see if they like the story or not. Emma, I worked on a new story this morning (a skateboarding story). Kenna, I do have some snowmen books. Emily, I'm glad you like The Abominable Snowmen Don't Roast Marshmallows . You guys might like Snow Monster Mystery too. Emmy, I'm so glad you love my books. Danielle, it's so great to hear from a nice person such as yourself and the others I've answered today. I hope you enjoy Martians Don't Take Temperatures. I have a book report page that might be helpful to you. Caroline, I love your idea! Fabian, I'm so glad you like the Swamp Monster in Third Grade series. I have suggested a fifth book to my editor so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I get to write another one. I live in Pennsylvania now. Alex, I think Bruno is a mammal and definitely a mixed-breed. Bruno is real for Kilmer. I imagined Bruno as big, dark with large fang-like teeth and huge eyes. Jocelyn, I look forward to meeting you. Riley and Madalyn, I'm so glad you like my books. g2g, Debbie